Electric clock.



. o. PRY.

nLBoTnm ,010011. APPLIOATIOI IILED 113.35, 1911.

Patented Nov. 12,1912.

camas naar, or rms, runen.

ELE-cram CLOCK- f specification of man mm. Application nled February 25, 19 1.1. Serial 110410371.

' Patented Nov. 1,2', 1 912,

'Toallwhomt may concern: Be it'known that I, CHARLES FRY, a citi- A -z zen 'of-the Republic of France, and residing at Paris, France, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Electric Clocks,

`of which the following 1s a specification. 4 Ihe present invention relates to clocks and the like and particularly to clocks'deriving their motive powexxfrom electrical or electro-magnetic energy.

It has been shown balance wheel of a watch, aswell as inf the Icase of the pendulum, the impulse should be stem at 'the dead oint (the vertical positlon of the penduum) if it is desiredto avoid disturbin -the system. This condition is veryv diicu t -to realize for a; pendulum controlling the l hands, particularly 1f it is desired to climinate variations of tension of the driving spring or of Athe voltage of the battery which actuates the clock. f

The present invention therefore aims to rovide a device for realizing the two folowing conditions :-`1. Imparting energy to the oscillatingv pendulum 1n the' immediate neighborhood of its vertical -position '2. 'A

l constant impulse imparted to the pendulum` by a battery so long lasits voltage does not` vFi rel shows ,a ndulum fall below a certain'limit'at which the clock 'a rol erfor'contro ing the e ectric circuit .\by contacting with a roller at the end of a lever arm; Fig. 2 shows the lever roller re v placed by a projection; Figs. 3A and 4 show modifica-tions of Fig.. 1; Figs. 5 and 6 show the endu'lum replaced bfy aA balance wheel, and ig. 7 is a modified crm of suspending 'YO hasbelow its bob 'Ma smal' which, when thepedulum is. passing. itsv 56 vertical position` 6. This lever isada'tedto close' the cirthe oscillatorymember."v

Examples of the' invention are shown in the accompanying drawin in which the several figures'. repn'ese'ntgl 'agrammatica'lly different fconstructlo'ns accordng to the in. vention.. In'Fig.v 1 the; pendulum A sus nded at roller., 1 1

bears `against a roller. b. fixed at one, end of the lever-' B centered' at .cuit ofa batteiyF y bearin lightly on a contact d carried by a lever. centered at e,A Iny the position shown,the.lever C, which `n ,sniall weight m at` one end,'is h eld position by the end of the.' armature D.

that-in the caseof the .p

rovided with from ythe-battery P through the the latter attracts its armaure D which is pivoted at g and the weight m on the lever C is free to descend on the corresponding end of the lever B.

When the pendulum has slightlyv passed its verticalposition, the roller-.fb bearsjlipwardly `on'the roller agiving rise to a `tan. gential component which tends to push the oscillation and in the direction in which it pulse. T is effectceasesfwhenthe leverC abuts aga-inst ther endY f o f the ,armature D, breaking .Contact between lever B and con- .tact d, lever B having a slight further' movement. For this purpose the lever B carries at the end on which the weight m bears; a small weight h. slightly heavier than the roller b so thatit continues-its movement until it is brought to rest on the stopft'. At this moment the' pendulum is' com'p etely the roller' b and continues its movement after having received an amount of ener represented by the fall of'the weight m t rough a limited height, the weight m,being restored to its normal position by the sprlng 'r' of the armature D. The same events occur as the pendulum returns throu h its vertical position, so that thependu um receives an impulse at each half 'oscillation withoutsuiering any ineiective blow.

The half oscillations of the pendulum may the wheel k which is driven by a awl carried by a 'rod y' connected vwith At e arma- Instead of the electromagnet E there may be. used a polarizedfelectromagnet, a.co1 l suering displacement in a magnetic field, an iron core or a magnet solenoid or any other eguivale'nt" device.

Fig` 2 shows av modi cation yin which the small lroller va resses in the vvertical posi- {tion o ff'the pen ulum ainger b carried by lthe lever B pivote'd at c and thus brin thro h levexzi) on tothe stop ,'the-lever D carries coils .osurrounding the ends o a. magnet F. to the contact between' theroller a and thel ingelzb ofthe 'lever B the coils. o, Q inthe eld of the magnet F are attracted by.:A the Amagnet and'bringf the lever D against the stop. p; tended: and

' of an electromagnet When current flows magnety E endulum toward the outer limits of its free of.

bey integrated in the ordinary manner by the intermediary. of a'spring n t c 1s movin thus giiving it a tangential im a attracted byna the .S-Pnng n is thus ex- Y energy the, pendulum just as the weight m does in the device shown in Fig. 1. As soon as the pendulum has passed the vertical position the contact ceases being broken at b by the roller athe spring B is thus brought against the end f of the armature D of the electromagnet E. The attractionV of the armature bends the spring B so that the pendulum which as performed work in displacing the spring recelves more energy than that which is ling electric receivers. The pivot ofthe balexpended for the purpose, after it has passed its vertical position. After roller a has passed o of spring B, the spring returns to its position against stop p, thus breakin contact between the end g of spring B an contact f. The armature D can control a clockwork, for instance by a pawl driving a ratchet wheel la held from revolution in the opposite direction by a de'tent.

In the modification shown in Fig. .ftj'the spring B has the same degree of tension before and after the pendulum has passed its vertical position but acts for a longer time after this position` has been. passed.l Non, mall its end g bears against the armature D o the driving magnetE. The roller /L as the pendulumpasses the vertical position v displaces the spring by coming into contact with the nger b', and establishes an electric circuit through the magnet E and the armature D is attracted. When the pendulum has passed its vertical position, spring B will have' a longer stroke before 'it is brought to rest by reason of the armature D being attracted and will therefore act for a longer time toimpel the pendulum. It is this difference o f' stroke which is the origin of .the

necessary restitution of energy. The circuit is broken by roller a of pendulumA passingoffof finger b of `spring B. There-'- upon armature D falls and partially de- .presses spring B, thereby ,tensioning it for imparting another impulse to the pendulum as it swings back across its center of oscillation.

In Fig. v5 the invention is applied to the control of a balance Wheel-having a spiral spring, for instance in an ,electric `chronometer which may be used as a self-con trolled clock or as a transmitter for controlance wheel A carri! a small roller a balanced by a Weight s; as the roller passes the dead point it bears against the spring B and thus.

roller a moves the lever B as it through -the extremeties of arm B and.

armature D. The spring B being put in tension by the roller a gives rise to a tangential force adapted to maintain the oscillation of the balance wheel A. In this manner the full oscillation of 360 (180 on each side of the dead point) which is necessary for the satisfactory working of the system may be obtained. The armature D of the electromagnet which drives the system controls the clockwork through a device not shown. The balance wheel A carries two weights u, u which can be fixedin position by means of screws to vary the effective lengths u and t', u.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6 the passes its purpose. by the recend b, which is V-shaped for the Instead of the roller carried tilinear pen ulum or the balance wheel, there may be used if desirable a jewel, such as an agate, ruby or sapphire, or a piece of polished steel or the like cut to a convex profile but this arrangement entails more friction.

The jewel cannot be used as a conductor of the current as is the case with .the roller in some instances indicated in the foregoing description. When the roller is to conduct the current it is made of a metal which is incapable of oxidation and the current may be conducted to it (Fig. 7 by a very weak spiral spring a: solderedat one end to the pivot zand at the other end to the pendulum rod y so as to avoid passage of the current through the lubricant of the pivot. The current. can also be conducted through a light vblade spring applied to thepivot o f the roller andthus forming a brush.

In all the examples the pendulum or balance wheel receives its impulse when the roller ofthe pendulum or balance wheel encounters normally the weighted lever or spring'lever which is to impart the impulse needed by the pendulum or balance wheel. The amplitude of the impulse is independent of the voltage of the battery, inasmuch as the` action of the electro-magnet (either by the attraction or weight ofl its armature) 1s to raise the weight, or tension the spring, to a llmite'd extent, whereby Aenergy is stored 1n-- the weight or spring'for giving the reqlured impulse to the pendulum. The energy stored'in the 'spring or weight is a xed quantity, so that the impulse given the pendulum, asa consequence, isa constant one.

.Having thus described my invention and the best means I knowof carrying the same into practical effect, I claim 1. An electric clock, comprising an oscillating element, a spring arm with which said oscillatin elementl is ada ted to come in contact, uring 'its oscillation, in the posimember for-regulating the movement there- I tion of resti of said element,- and electro:l

therefrom, a spring arm .magnetic means -tensioning said' s ring arm to impartan 'impulse to said oscil ating element during contact therewith, said .springl arm by its displacement by said oscillating element establishing a circuit forv current for ener zing said-electro-ma "etic means, and sai osci lating element ing disconnected from the clock mechanism and free to vswing in either direction :of oscillation after' receiving its impulsefrom said arm. 2.' An electric clock, comprising a train of gears, an oscillating element disconnected with which said oscillating elementis adaptedto come in contact during its oscillation, in theposition of rest of said; oscillating element, andan"v electro-magnet adapted to l-tension sai spring arm to impart an impulse to sai 'oscillatin element during -contact .therewith, sai oscillating. element being free to swing in either direction of oscillation after y receiving its impulse from said arm.

- ll-An electric clock, comprising a train of gears, an oscillating element disconnected therefrom having a roller tliereon, a spring arnhaving a stud thereon with which the Isaid roller on' said oscillating element is adapted to come in contactduring its'oscillation', in the position of rest of said. oscillating element, andan electro-magnet adapted to tension said springarm to impart`S an impulse to said oscillating'element during contact therewith, said oscillating element being free to swing in either direction of oscillation after receiving its impulse from vsaid arm.

4. An electric clock, comprising a train of ears, a balance wheel, a spring arm with which said balance wheel .is adapted to come in contactduring its 'oscillatiomin the position of rest of said balance wheel, andan electro-magnet adaptedlto-tension said -s ring arm `to impart an ulse to said Vba ance ywheel during contact therewith, said balance wheell being disconnected from said train of gearsand freeto swing in either direction .i 4of oscillation after receiving its impulse ,iinpart--impi'ilsesv ber as it passes.

from'said arm.=' s

5.. An electric clock having an oscillatory ing. within the arc of. movement atory member -and 'adapted to of constant force thereto,

Aimparted to' said memof, an arm of said osci said.y impulses beih'g oscillation andA 'n thel direction of i t:i "ou tV ward movement, 'and an electro-magnet tion' after -receiving its impulse ada ted sai Marc said 'oscillating member being disclock' mechanism and free' to swing in either directionof oscillapulses .being imp electro-magnet tensioning to'either side of its center ofA to valrythe-relation of said armto' will L :member for regulating the movement thereof anarm lying 1n the path of movement of said oscillating member for imp artin A pulses of constant force thereto, 'sai im- /arted to said oscillating member as itpassesto either sideof its center of oscillation and in the directionv of its movement,' and an electromagnet impulse, the energization of said magnet bein controlled by said arm and oscillgting mem r` said oscillatin member being disconnected. from the c ock mechanism uand f ree to swing in either direction of oscillation after receiving its impulse'from said arm. Y

7 electric clock having an oscillating member for regulating the movement thereof,'a s ring arm adapted to impart impulses' to sai oscillating member as itl passes to either side of itscenter of oscillation and-in the direction of its outward movement, and

an .electro-magnet tensioning said spring arm for each impulse said oscillating member being disconnected fromthesclock mechanismand free to swing in-either direction fof oscillation after receiving its impulse from said arm.

8. A11 electric clock having an oscillating member for regulatin the' movement there; of, a spring1 arm a apted to impart impulses to sai to either side of its center of oscillation and in the direction of its outward movement, anv 'said spring arm foreach impulse, 'and stops kfor limiting the movement of said spring arm by'Vsaid electro-magnet' said oscillating member bein oscillating member as 'itpasses f als4 disconnected 'from the clock mechanism an free to swing in either direction of oscillation after receiving kits impulse from said arm.

9. A11-ele tric clock having an oscillating member for;l regulatingthe movement thereof, an arm lying in the path of movement of said oscillating member for im art-ing impulsesof constant forceto sai member, said 4impulses being imparted to vsaidoscill'atory member as itpasses to either sideof itsgcenter of oscillation and in the direction v-of its 1outward novement, ai;1 electro-- ma t su yin lsai means wit ener forggach' iiiilpulse the energization of sagiryi .magnetbein member, sai' oscillating member being disconnected vfrom the' clock mechanism and lfree to swing in either vdirection of oscillaoscillatory iio tion after receiving-its Vimpulse from said arm, 'a train of gears, and means operated by said electric-magnet train.o'gears..

" 10',A An electric an oscillating "member" :forA regulating movement thereof, said oscillatory memberhaving adpro1ection thereon, aspring'arn'i adapte to be 130 lcontrolled by said oscillating I for actuating said l struck by the projection on said oscillatory upon the closing of said circuit and tensionmember and to impart impulses to saidv osciling vsaid spring arm for each.l impulse. lating member as it passes to either side of In witness whereof, I have hereunto its center of oscillation and in the direction signed my name in the presence of two sub- 5 of its outwargd movement, an electric contact scribing witnesses.

adapted to e closed when said projection f enga-ges said spring arm, a battery, an elec- CHARLES FRY tro-magnet, and an electric circuit includi Witnesses: said battery, electro-magnet, spring arm a DEANl B. MASON, 10 contact, said electro-magnet being energized RENS BABDY. 

